Lorries and other heavy goods vehicles are to be banned from using a historic bridge in Market Drayton to prevent further damage to it.

Walkmill Bridge, a listed building, has been severely damaged several times in the last year and will be closed for about two weeks from Monday for repair work to be carried out.

As part of the work, a new 18-tonne weight limit will be installed over the bridge to prevent bigger vehicles using the route in the future.

Shropshire Council says the repairs are necessary as a result of damage caused by an accident in November last year, which demolished most of its eastern parapet.

Further damage to the parapet occurred in June this year, caused by two heavy goods vehicles after repairs were carried out by Shropshire Council contractors the month before.

The latest repairs involve taking down the damaged area of the parapet and reb- uilding it with the existing stone. Traffic will be divert- ed via Sutton and The Four Alls, but access for pedestrians and dismounted cyclists will remain available.

The bridge is protected by metal safety barriers and open to traffic, but the council has confirmed it will close from Monday.

Councillor Simon Jones, Shropshire Council’s cabinet member for transport, said: “It is appreciated that the closure of the bridge to traffic may cause inconvenience, and every reasonable effort will be made to re-open it as soon as possible.”

Rebecca Millard, National Farmers Union group secretary, said seeing the bridge damaged and closed twice in less than a year was a major inconvenience.

The bridge links NFU Mutual Rural Insurers and the National Farmers’ Union group office to the town from Walkmill Road Business Park. She said: “This type of thing is completely out of our hands and I can’t believe the bridge was damaged again just a few weeks after it reopened.

“Shropshire Council has confirmed work will start on September 12 and I would just like to say that we are open for business and anyone with queries can pop in or call us.

“We would like to thank everyone for bearing with us during the disruption.”

By James Pugh